Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP)

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust; Ilford; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in Ilford is seeking a Clinical Associate in Psychology to provide psychological assessments and interventions for individuals with complex mental health needs. The role involves working closely with a multidisciplinary team to improve health outcomes. The ideal candidate will have relevant qualifications and experience in delivering evidence-based psychological care. Competitive salary offered with HCAS.

Qualifications

• Experience in working with adults with complex mental health needs.
• Delivering evidence-based psychological interventions.
• Ability to communicate complex information empathetically.

Responsibilities

• Provide psychological assessments and evidence-based interventions.
• Work closely with multidisciplinary teams to facilitate interventions.
• Build relationships with stakeholders including service users and healthcare professionals.

Skills

Psychological assessment

Evidence-based interventions

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

MCAP qualification from recognized CAP provider

Upper second-class honours degree (2:1) in Psychology

NVQ level 2 or equivalent literacy and numeracy

Job description

Clinical Associate in Psychology (CAP)

The closing date is 04 December 2025

We have been developing new ways of bringing together health and social care professionals with our voluntary sector and local communities to support people with severe and complex mental health problems. Our community mental health services are currently undergoing a significant transformation designed to bring about a greater integration of service and support between different professional groups, and between organisations to facilitate better access to the right kind of intervention at the right time.

Clinical associate's in psychology (CAPs) working within our services have a crucial role to play in improving access to therapies and in promoting greater community engagement and partnership working with our complex and diverse client group.

The work will be under the supervision of a qualified HCPC registered Practitioner Psychologist who will retain clinical responsibility for clinical work carried out.

Qualified CAPs will be working psychologically with individuals presenting with severe and complex mental health problems, in community settings at the individual, group, couple and family level through to teams, systems and community level.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will engage with individuals under the care of NELFT services to develop a shared understanding of the complex issues the person is facing, how they cope and the impact this has on their mental, physical health and well‑being and those around them (psychological assessment and formulation). Under supervision of qualified Practitioner Psychologist, they will explore social and psychological interventions, and other potential options which may improve health outcomes and help clients to achieve agreed goals.

Service users seen by the post holder will include those who have experienced high levels of distress and complex mental health difficulties. Service users may present with a high level of risk to both themselves and sometimes to other people. Assessments and interventions will be delivered in a range of settings, including community, Community and Voluntary and Social Enterprises (VCSE) as well as clinics and in person, by telephone or digital platform.

The post holder would be expected to work closely with lived experience representatives, local communities and VCSEs to co‑produce and co‑develop services.

About us

Our Values 2025 - 2030

Working with our colleagues, patients and carers we have co‑produced three new values that we aim to embed within our culture here at NELFT.

They are:

• We are kind.
• We are respectful.
• We work together with our communities.

These three values help us to strive to provide the best care by the best people.

Probationary Period

This post will be subject to a probationary period.

Starting with Us

NELFT places great importance on new starters being properly welcomed into the Trust. All new starters will join the Trust on the first Monday of each month and undertake a comprehensive induction of up to two weeks, including mandatory training, systems training and the allocation of equipment. As part of the process, new starters will also have the opportunity to meet the executive team, senior managers, and attend several drop‑in sessions focusing on engagement, health and wellbeing, and key processes. The induction will be held at our head office in Rainham, Essex.

High Cost Area Supplement – Outer London

This post also attracts payment for High Cost Area Supplement of 15% of the basic salary (with a minimum of £4,714 to a maximum of £5,941 p.a. pro rata for part time).

Job responsibilities

Provide psychological assessment, formulation and evidence‑based interventions to people living with complex mental health issues, under the supervision of a qualified Practitioner Psychologist (clinical or counselling psychologist).

To communicate constructively with a range of healthcare professionals in a variety of services including nurses, social workers, allied health professionals (AHPs) and medical colleagues as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Build relationships with key stakeholders, which include Service Users, people who care for and about service users, Lived Experience Representatives, Local Operational Leads, Psychological Therapies Lead/supervisor, Qualified, trainee and assistant psychologist & psychological therapists, Multidisciplinary colleagues working in community and Primary Care Networks, Local Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Organisations and other community assets, Key stakeholders in the wider health and social care system.

Work as part of a multidisciplinary community team and liaise with relevant external agencies to facilitate and enable psychological interventions.

Communicate new learning approaches and provide constructive feedback to challenge and overcome barriers to implementation of best psychological practice.

Communicate to others the core concepts of psychological theory, research and practice in order to enhance their delivery of psychological interventions.

Contribute to the training and development of the wider MDT regarding key psychological concepts and principles relevant to the clinical care of service users.

To effectively communicate decision making processes which have informed the psychological management of risk; implement and respond appropriately to risk, using appropriate guidance and support, maintaining compliance with service policy and values.

Understand impact of multiple perspectives within the context of multidisciplinary teams.

Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information about this role and working at North East London NHS Foundation Trust. We encourage you to refer to this when completing your application.

We welcome your application even if you do not meet all the criteria listed in the person specification. Please apply as soon as possible as some posts close early to limit the number of applications.

Certificates of Sponsorship

Although we are a registered sponsor organisation, we are unable to offer sponsorship for all job roles. Please check your eligibility under the UKVI points‑based system. When calculating the basic salary for sponsorship, HCAS (High‑Cost Area Supplement) is not included to ensure fairness and consistency within our Trust.

Use of AI

Please see attached document regarding acceptable use of AI during the recruitment process.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• MCAP qualification from a recognised CAP provider.
• NVQ level 2 or equivalent standard of literacy and numeracy.
• Additional specialist post‑graduate training in relevant psychological area/therapy/modality and registered with the appropriate professional body.
• Upper second‑class honours degree (2:1) in Psychology.
• Eligible for Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) with the BPS.

Experience

• Experience of work in the NHS with adults with complex mental health needs.
• Delivering evidence‑based psychological interventions with individuals and groups presenting with severe and/or complex mental health problems.
• Experience of working with learning disabilities, autism and severe mental health difficulties and with behaviours that challenge.
• Experience in NHS or similar healthcare settings.
• Experience of applying NICE‑compliant therapies relevant to the population (e.g. Behavioural approaches/PBS, managing challenging behaviours, intervention for populations with a learning disability diagnosis).
• An ability to communicate difficult information with sensitivity, empathy and reassurance.

Knowledge

• An awareness of NHS Plan, NSF and clinical governance priorities.
• Knowledge of learning disability populations including autism presentations, inpatient/acute psychology and evidence‑based psychological treatments.
• Sound knowledge of theoretical underpinnings of at least one evidence‑based psychological therapy, and ability to apply this in practice.
• Master’s level knowledge of research design and methodology.
• Up to date knowledge of psychological research and national guidance relevant to the client group.
• Ability to draw upon a specific theoretical knowledge base in the analysis of facts or situations to arrive at appropriate formulations, under clinical supervision.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

NELFT North East London Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum (plus HCAS)